End of Season Pressers (Monday May 15)

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Yesterday's presser seemed so different than other Leafs ones we've seen in the past. Looked disorganized and not really planned at all along with a late start. It seemed to be hastily put together, almost as if they handed me the duties to organize it.

Then we saw Dubas come out and he spoke in a way like we've never seen him before. There is so much going on behind the scenes for sure with Shanahan not even present.

Was it only me or did the whole thing have a surreal feel to it?

If I had to make a guess on yesterday's events I would hypothesize that he is leaving and was not offered a contract but to save face they are going to allow Kyle to say he needed to step back and spend time with his family. It seemed way too chaotic down there according to Chris Johnston. He said he has never seen it some disorganized before. Something is broken...lets see who has the crown now.

 

[ACC1224]

He probably did, but Dubas didn't even try to get him.

I don't believe any Canadian teams were on his list.

If I had to make a guess on yesterday's events I would hypothesize that he is leaving and was not offered a contract but to save face they are going to allow Kyle to say he needed to step back and spend time with his family. It seemed way too chaotic down there according to Chris Johnston. He said he has never seen it some disorganized before. Something is broken...lets see who has the crown now.

If that were the case why would he say that he wouldn't work anywhere but here next season?

 

[Racer88]

Sure...he wants to take a year off when all the real decision need to be made.

Full court press from the Dubas shills in the media. "He cares so much.....he even cried during the presser!"
Even the Soviets had standards.

He is not taking a year off. If the Leafs send him packing he will grab the first good offer that comes along

Good lord. Taking a few days after a difficult year to discuss an offer and the future of your employment path with your significant other is not bizarre or strange.
Such weird conspiracy theories about such a normal thing.

no what is crazy is him pretending that he would really have to think about an offer.
He has worked his entire life to get where he is and no chance in hell he would turn down a reasonable fair offer from the leafs just because the season was hard and people were mean to him. If he is that soft he does not belong in the high pressure life of professional sports management……..the then again look at the soft team he built.

 

[nuck]

Who's the GM in the event that Dubas takes the year off? Where might Dubas resurface once he decides to step back in? Those are the only questions I might have if and when things ever reach such a point.

Pridham would be acting GM until after July 1. They would be all set up for the draft and would have a plan of attack for the big 3 contracts, plus he has a relationship with them and their agents. After that they need to decide if they would maybe want to keep him in the role, let him compete for the big chair, or give him permission to speak to the Flames knowing he might want to take the bird in the hand rather than wait and see about the Leaf's job. If he goes, then they look for the new GM at that time. I would think candidates currently employed would not be released to speak to until after the draft at least. If not Pridham I could not guess who the new Leaf guy will be. We don't know a lot of the potential candidates, just a couple of the shiniest. They don't need a genius because they have so many of the pieces to succeed. The right coach is most of the battle.

I know a number of us have commented that a proper new direction can't come from within the organization but we have to be realistic that if they didn't fire Kyles ass already, the board doesn't look at it that way.

Where Kyle resurfaces doesn't matter. Its 50-50 whether he has learned enough to succeed or whether he will make a plan and then stubbornly stick with it year after year whether its working or not. The chances of it being to the specific detriment of the Leafs are pretty slim. Unless he desperately stalks and convinces Tavares to come to the new gig of course

In terms of simple speculation however Calgary, Pittsburgh, maybe Phoenix and maybe CBJ? If Lou Lam is hiring a successor I can't see it being Dubas but there might be a GM gig for someone else there. Have I missed anyone? What does Dubas bring? His team was built around Rielly and the big 3. The defence has a couple of good younger pieces but is a bit thin with Muzzin, TJ, Holl, Gio not contributors any more.

He spends high picks to fill holes but until this last season most of those were 1 year patches so if a club is looking for a builder he hasn't really shown that. For this reason Im not sure how much of a fit he would be in Phoenix.

Columbus should be ditto but with Johnny, Laine and Jenner they have some veteran blocks and I suspect Fantilli may produce sooner rather than later.

Pittsburgh has an aging core that may need a tear down and rebuild and thats something that Kyle has never done (who has done this with a club like the Pens tho?). If they are interested in KD I hope it isn't to win with Sid, Malkin and Letang because that ship has sailed but Kyle has made a number of solid bandaid adds so he has some cred.

Calgary has a fair amount of high end talent so a bandaid guy is more valuable to them than a builder. If they want to talk to Pridham they must like what he has done in Toronto so that could mean they admire the Doob as well.

I could see Dubas in Calgary or Columbus and delivering them some value. Pens are a sinking ship just by virtue of age and should have already been looking into moving 1 or more of their big guns last year. Calgary will probably have a bounce back just from dumping Sutter so its a good landing spot. He's a Flame unless they get Pridham first

Sorry for the book

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

I don't believe any Canadian teams were on his list.


If that were the case why would he say that he wouldn't work anywhere but here next season?

Kyle said he wouldn't pop up somewhere else a few weeks later if he doesn't come back. That doesn't mean he wouldn't accept an offer later on this year or next. A lot of guys say they will retire and they won't coach again and then pop up after 6 months. Look at Paul Maurice...he did exactly that after he quit on the Jets.

 

[ACC1224]

He is not taking a year off. If the Leafs send him packing he will grab the first good offer that comes along

no what is crazy is him pretending that he would really have to think about an offer.
He has worked his entire life to get where he is and no chance in hell he would turn down a reasonable fair offer from the leafs just because the season was hard and people were mean to him. If he is that soft he does not belong in the high pressure life of professional sports management……..the then again look at the soft team he built.

I didn't get the impression he was concerned for himself but for his family.

Kyle said he wouldn't pop up somewhere else a few weeks later if he doesn't come back. That doesn't mean he wouldn't accept an offer later on this year or next. A lot of guys say they will retire and they won't coach again and then pop up after 6 months. Look at Paul Maurice...he did exactly that after he quit on the Jets.

With the draft and free agency coming up he would only be in demand in the next few weeks/month.

 

[Racer88]

I didn't get the impression he was concerned for himself but for his family.

That could be and that I understand, however I still think these conversations would have already taken place. I know I certainly would be talking with my wife and adult kids looking for feedback all alone the way. I’m sure you would be too.
. I just find it very strange thing to bring up at a season ending press conference but the entire presser was weird without Shanny speaking

 

[rumman]

If I had to make a guess on yesterday's events I would hypothesize that he is leaving and was not offered a contract but to save face they are going to allow Kyle to say he needed to step back and spend time with his family. It seemed way too chaotic down there according to Chris Johnston. He said he has never seen it some disorganized before. Something is broken...lets see who has the crown now.

I think your hypothesis is bang on, we’ll know soon enough, even boy wonder can’t waste a year out of the league, if he surfaces with another team you know he wasn’t asked back imo…….

 

[ACC1224]

That could be and that I understand, however I still think these conversations would have already taken place. I know I certainly would be talking with my wife and adult kids looking for feedback all alone the way. I’m sure you would be too.
. I just find it very strange thing to bring up at a season ending press conference but the entire presser was weird without Shanny speaking

I assumed it meant he was offered an extension that morning and wanted to speak to the family before signing it.

 

[rocketman588]

By every report he has improved the off ice quality of the entire organization by leaps and bounds. Players love it here. Maybe being the President is where he should be and let someone else focus on the on-ice product?

Or you know that could be the doing of our current president whose job it is to manage that

I'm sure he's easier to deal with then Lou and has helped with decisions, but giving him all the credit for stuff that is in Shanny's job description is kinda weird.

Sounds like the Mark Hunter drafted every bust but Dubas drafted Marner BS

It's similar to blaming people somehow trying to state that Dubas is being hancuffed by Shanny so it's really his fault we're not winning

 

[Racer88]

I assumed it meant he was offered an extension that morning and wanted to speak to the family before signing it.

Ya, that could be too

 

[DuklaNation]

Dubas acts emotional. Dubas admitted he's emotional yesterday.

Got to fire this guy, you can't behave in this manner as GM.

 

[Racer88]

By every report he has improved the off ice quality of the entire organization by leaps and bounds. Players love it here. Maybe being the President is where he should be and let someone else focus on the on-ice product?

Of course players love it here, they are not held accountable by management for their play on the ice

 

[Mess]

I can't believe there are posters in here that think Dubas should be promoted to President. That is the very definition of "failing upward".

That is the Peter Principle you're talking about of being elevated to your level of incompetence.

However the higher you promote him the less he has to do with daily operations and hands on, therefore the less damage he can keep inflicting on the organization as the non decision maker.

Heck they could promote him to Vice President as Shanny's right hand man.

Up or Out as I'm on board for either option in the best interest of my Maple Leafs. Out of site is out of mind and end justifies the means.

Even if the excuse to promote him is the players like him, that's good enough for me.

 

[Antropovsky]

Sounds like Dubas either wants a long term contract, significantly more money or both. I don't think it's a good look to air that your family struggled. After not signing, sure put it in the media.

 

[Osmows OReilly]

Any speculation about what Shanahan will say? I’d assume it’ll be a follow up to Dubas’ interview? Maybe lay out the terms of his extension? Maybe something we don’t know?

 

[Squiffy]

Any speculation about what Shanahan will say? I’d assume it’ll be a follow up to Dubas’ interview? Maybe lay out the terms of his extension? Maybe something we don’t know?

It can only be about Dubas staying or going really, with a side serving after that of Keefe staying or not. Rest of it depends on those two things.

 

[nuck]

I didn't get the impression he was concerned for himself but for his family.


With the draft and free agency coming up he would only be in demand in the next few weeks/month.

I think the last year being a lame duck and that crappy finish put a lot of stress on him and likely his family as well but it just peaked a couple of days ago. Its like a fighter announcing his retirement right after getting knocked out. He isn't bound by what he just said and it would be expected he might feel different in a few days.

I think Pridham can handle the draft and July 1st. This would have already been set up and Shanny would be fully involved in the final decisions so not a lot of leeway at this point for any Leaf GM.

 

[rumman]

That is the Peter Principle you're talking about of being elevated to your level of incompetence.

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However the higher you promote him the less he has to do with daily operations and hands on, therefore the less damage he can keep inflicting on the organization as the non decision maker.

Heck they could promote him to Vice President as Shanny's right hand man.

Up or Out as I'm on board for either option in the best interest of my Maple Leafs. Out of site is out of mind and end justifies the means.

Even if the excuse to promote him is the players like him, that's good enough for me.

His reminds me of the story about the turkey that wanted to fly, a bull in the field suggested he eat his dropping because the protein would make him stronger so the turkey began eating shit at every opportunity. Not long after the turkey could fly up into the lower branches of the tree in his pasture, inspired he ate more and more shit until he could reach the highest branches of the tree. Suddenly out of nowhere a pickup truck with two rednecks in it hopped out and blaster the turkey to smithereens.

the moral of the story is BS may get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there……….

 

[andora]

Dubas acts emotional. Dubas admitted he's emotional yesterday.

Got to fire this guy, you can't behave in this manner as GM.

Nah.. emotional and detailed can exist concurrently.. he isnt lining up a detailed trade or working out cap math while watching the games so there is time for both

For years i ran an operation of 2 million dollars and was incredibly detailed and patient when it came to making changes or altering plans but was emotional in certain situations and certain people... and was successful

Can be both

 

[rocketman588]

Sounds like Dubas either wants a long term contract, significantly more money or both. I don't think it's a good look to air that your family struggled. After not signing, sure put it in the media.

He let everyone else milk mlse for more money now he wants his

 

[ACC1224]

Any speculation about what Shanahan will say? I’d assume it’ll be a follow up to Dubas’ interview? Maybe lay out the terms of his extension? Maybe something we don’t know?

I would imagine it will be mostly a Dubas update. Terms of his extension or thanking him for his service.

 

[nuck]

I assumed it meant he was offered an extension that morning and wanted to speak to the family before signing it.

One more year Seriously if they offered 2 years wouldn't you want to think long and hard about it? One season to crush it or he is back in the final year vise. That to me makes more sense than "So you get that your master plan didn't work so now you have a new one? Okay here is your $5M x 5".

 

[DuklaNation]

Nah.. emotional and detailed can exist concurrently.. he isnt lining up a detailed trade or working out cap math while watching the games so there is time for both

For years i ran an operation of 2 million dollars and was incredibly detailed and patient when it came to making changes or altering plans but was emotional in certain situations and certain people... and was successful

Can be both

Not in my field, emotion can be destructive. I can see why Dubas gets bent over on these trades.

 

[ACC1224]

I think the last year being a lame duck and that crappy finish put a lot of stress on him and likely his family as well but it just peaked a couple of days ago. Its like a fighter announcing his retirement right after getting knocked out. He isn't bound by what he just said and it would be expected he might feel different in a few days.

I think Pridham can handle the draft and July 1st. This would have already been set up and Shanny would be fully involved in the final decisions so not a lot of leeway at this point for any Leaf GM.

Could be but they were knocked out Friday, he had a few days to get over the shock of that, he wasn't just knocked out.

One more year Seriously if they offered 2 years wouldn't you want to think long and hard about it? One season to crush it or he is back in the final year vise. That to me makes more sense than "So you get that your master plan didn't work so now you have a new one? Okay here is your $5M x 5".

I would assume it would be a minimum 3 years, maybe 5.